Beyond Culture Learning Theory: What Can Personality Tell Us About Cultural Competence?

Abstract

The meta-analytic study examined correlates of cultural competence as assessed by the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale. A total of 17 variables were analyzed from 66 independent studies ( N = 10,672). In line with culture learning theory, situational factors such as length of residence ( r = .16), cultural knowledge ( r = .34), previous cross-cultural experience ( r = .17), cultural distance ( r = −.33), language proficiency ( r = .35), and contact with host nationals ( r = .29) were associated with better sociocultural adaptation. The meta-analysis was extended to personality variables, with small to medium effect sizes found for the “Big Five” traits of agreeableness ( r = .16), conscientiousness ( r = .22), openness/flexibility ( r = .29), extraversion ( r = .29), and neuroticism ( r = −.32), and large effect sizes found for more narrowly defined, culture-relevant factors such as cultural empathy ( r = .49) and cross-cultural self-efficacy ( r = .45). The findings indicate that both personal and situational factors relate to cultural competence and that personality variables deserve greater attention in future studies of sociocultural adaptation.